Year: 2024

The Department of Sport & Leadership Studies and the SMART Lab at Wichita State invite you to attend a complimentary speaker session, “Winning with Data: Leveraging Analytics in Sport” by Ed Chao at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 in 265 Rhatigan Student Center, Lucas Room.

Chao is a co-founder and VP at Cerebro Sports, a leading data analytics company funded by Mark Cuban, as well as the GM of the Dallas Flash, a professional pickleball team on the Major League Pickleball Tour. He will share insight on how data analytics shapes and advances the decision-making process in the sport industry with practical cases. 

Reservations will be granted on a first-come, first-serve basis. RSVP by Tuesday, Nov. 19. For questions, contact Dr. Wonyoung Kim at wonyoung.kim@wichita.edu. 

Spero, a Barton School of Business startup aimed at unlocking the potential of Wichita and its citizens, hosted an event on Friday, Oct. 25 to celebrate the launch of its micro-credential programs in entrepreneurship and career readiness. The event brought together the inaugural class of Spero students, their families, Spero board members, employers, mentors and other supporters to commemorate the launch. Marquis Bradley, founder of Omnicut Fitness, delivered a rousing keynote speech that set the stage for a promising start. The keynote energized attendees and set an optimistic tone for Spero’s future impact.

“To have a celebration of Spero students with their families in attendance was special,” said Walter Berry, executive chairman, Berry Companies, board chair of Spero and a member of the Barton School’s Dean’s Advisory Board. “It really set the stage for the program and built excitement for the opportunities ahead.”

Spero, derived from the Latin word for “hope,” is dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve lasting independence by equipping them with essential skills and providing access to meaningful employment opportunities.

Dr. Scott Hill, assistant teaching professor in the Department of Philosophy of Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, recently published his article “Where Are the Generalists?” in the journal, Social Epistemology Review and Reply Collective.

Dr. Hill argues in favor of the paper “Why We Should Stop Talking about Generalism and Particularism: Moving the Debate on Conspiracy Theories Forward” by Maarten Boudry and M. Giulia Napolitano, which makes the argument that the generalist/particularist distinction is not a fruitful one when used in the context of “conspiracy theories.” Dr. Hill offers counters to arguments made by M R.X Dentith and Melina Tsapos in their paper, “Why We Should Talk about Generalism and Particularism: A Reply to Boudry and Napolitano,” which offered critics of Boundy and Napolitano’s paper.

The Ulrich Museum of Art hosted Ghanaian-Moroccan multidisciplinary artist, David Alabo, to discuss his inspirations, creative process and deep connection to Afrofuturism and Afro-Surrealism.

Alabo’s work is currently on display at the Ulrich fall exhibition, “Dream Machine: Fantasy, Surreality, and Play,” through Dec. 7

Usha Haley, W. Frank Barton Distinguished Chair in International Business, was interviewed by the Business Journals on what small businesses can do in the face of impending tariffs. Usha’s advice comprises the lede of the article, “My advice is to buckle up.”

Join the African American Faculty and Staff Association (AAFSA) for its holiday gathering from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 7 in 233 Rhatigan Student Center, Santa Fe Trail Room, to network and celebrate this year’s impact.

Applications are still being accepted for the 2025 Alternative Spring Break from March 16-21 in Chicago, Illinois. Alternative Spring Breaks give students an opportunity to gain experience about the unique needs of an area and travel that that location to volunteer for a week.

This year we will travel to Chicago to volunteer with organizations that serve causes related to youth, education, poverty and homelessness. The trip cost is $175 per person and includes transportation, lodging and food. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22.

Applications for the trip may be dropped off in the Student Engagement & Belonging office in 216 Rhatigan Student Center or emailed to civicengagement@wichita.edu. For questions, email civicengagement@wichita.edu or call 316-978-7016. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to apply.

The University Staff Senate has established a scholarship to help in the advancement of WSU staff and their dependents. Staff members or their dependents beginning or continuing their first bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply. This scholarship can be combined with the university’s Tuition Assistance and other awards and can be used for tuition, books and fees.

Applications for the University Staff Senate scholarship open Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 and close Feb. 1, 2025 for the fall 2025 award. For more information and to apply, visit the Staff Senate Scholarship webpage.

For the Monday, Nov. 18 Shocker men’s basketball game, a number of lots in the vicinity of Charles Koch Arena will be reserved for Shocker Athletic Scholarship Organization parking beginning at 3:30 p.m. During this time, signage will be in place alerting drivers of the impending lot assignment changes.

Anyone previously parked in these lots will need to move their cars by 3:30 p.m. Any unauthorized parking in a game day lot carries a $50 citation fine.

Join HOPE Services for its #WSUWeSupportU Substance Use and Mental Wellness training from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Nov. 21 in 238 Rhatigan Student Center, Meeker Room.

The training gives students the tools to understand substance use, address stigma around substance use and engage with harm reduction ideas and practices to support the campus community.